Among the 146 people who died in the Hong Kong apartment fire disaster were many domestic workers from Southeast Asia, including the Philippines and Indonesia, and it has emerged that a significant number of the domestic workers who took the lead in preventing loss of life during the blaze now face the prospect of losing their jobs.
On the 30th (local time), The New York Times (NYT) reported, "Many of the domestic workers who went into rescue mode while caring for children and survived are worried they may now lose their jobs and have to return to their home countries," adding, "If a worker who loses a job cannot find a new employer within two weeks, the worker is repatriated."
According to estimates by various embassies, at least 230 Southeast Asian domestic workers were living in the Wong Fuk Court apartment where the fire broke out, including 140 Indonesians and 90 Filipinos. In Hong Kong, domestic workers are legally required to live in the same home as their employers. About 370,000 foreign domestic workers are known to be working in Hong Kong.
Domestic workers were among the casualties of the fire. At least eight people were confirmed dead, and the Indonesian Consulate General in Hong Kong said as of the previous day that seven Indonesian domestic workers had died and two were injured. The Philippine Consulate General also said one Filipino domestic worker had died and seven were missing.
Domestic workers took the lead in protecting their employers' families during the fire. The Sing Tao Daily reported that a domestic worker from the Philippines was rescued after being trapped for hours with her employer's family while holding a 3-month-old baby in her arms. The domestic worker, who had arrived in Hong Kong only a few days earlier to find work, is now being treated in an intensive care unit.
Other domestic workers also showed courage. According to the NYT, Karen Dadap, a Filipino, received a message from the family of the 5-year-old boy she cared for saying, "The building next door is on fire," and quickly evacuated the building with the child. Dadap said, "I didn't think about my belongings, passport, or money at all. As long as the child and I could get out, that was enough."
The NYT said, "Their stories show how exposed foreign domestic workers—who undergird the city's economy—are to great danger," adding, "In many Hong Kong households, they are the women who cook at home, bathe elderly parents, and care for children. They are not always visible, but they are indispensable."
But as many of the domestic workers' employers suffered heavy property damage and loss of life in the fire, their continued employment has become uncertain. Sring Sringatin, secretary-general of the Indonesian Migrant Workers Union, said, "Employers who lost their homes may find it difficult to keep paying wages, so many domestic workers are anxious they may lose their jobs."
Domestic workers are in a bleak state, having lost employers' family members and colleagues and now fearing they may also lose their jobs. Kuku Susilawati, a 43-year-old Indonesian domestic worker, said that after the woman she cared for was moved to a nursing home, her employer no longer needed her help, adding, "I'm under pressure to find a new job quickly."
A somber mood also prevails in parks and other places where domestic workers gather every Sunday. On Sunday afternoon, more than 1,000 Indonesian women gathered on the lawn at Victoria Park on Hong Kong Island to mourn the victims. Dwi Astuti, who works near the fire scene, said, "We all do the same work here and support our families back home."